Draft:Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases

Since its creation in 2010, the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (CEEZAD) at Kansas State University has undertaken the mission of protecting the nation’s public health and agricultural sectors. The Department of Homeland Security designated CEEZAD to fight a threat posed by high-consequence foreign animal, emerging and zoonotic disease threats.¹

CEEZAD’s research efforts are directed by Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University.² CEEZAD is housed within the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University.³

CEEZAD scientists work to develop novel, safe, efficacious, and DIVA-compatible vaccines for prevention and control of high-impact emerging and zoonotic diseases that can be manufactured in the U.S.⁴

They also focus on development and expansion of technologies and platforms for laboratory and point-of-need pathogen detection.⁵

In order to facilitate the ability to predict high-consequence disease behavior in the U.S., they develop models to aid prevention or outbreak control.⁶

CEEZAD also develops and presents education and training programs for students, veterinarians, first responders, and researchers who may come in contact with high-impact animal diseases and animal emergencies.⁷

CEEZAD’s director, Dr. Juergen A. Richt, is an internationally recognized expert in virology who has been cited for his expertise in The New YorkTimes ^{8, 9}, El Pais ¹⁰,  National Public Radio¹¹, and Fortune.¹²

Since the arrival of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic in 2020, CEEZAD scientists have undertaken dozens of research projects designed to mitigate the impact of the virus’s spread.¹³

Since 2011, CEEZAD scientists have published more than 250 refereed articles in major scientific journals reporting on the findings of their studies. A few examples of this research during the past few years include:

“H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b dynamics in experimentally infected calves and cows.” Research provided evidence that in addition to H5N1 B3.13, other HPAIV H5N1 strains have the potential to replicate in the udder of cows and that milk and milking procedures, rather than respiratory spread, are likely the primary routes of H5N1 transmission between cattle.¹⁴

“Experimental co-infection of calves with SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants of concern.” The findings suggest that cattle are more permissive to infection with SARS-CoV-2 Delta than Omicron BA.2 and Wuhan-like isolates but, in the absence of horizontal transmission, are not likely to be reservoir hosts for currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.¹⁵

“Rift Valley Fever virus M and L genome segment detection: a comparison of field-deployable reverse transcription insulated isothermal PCR (RT-iiPCR) and laboratory-based multiplex reverse transcription real-time PCR.” This research concludes that the POCKIT dual-gene RVFV detection strategy can provide reliable, sensitive, and specific point-of-need viral RNA detection. Moreover, the field detection of RVFV in vectors or susceptible animal species can aid in the surveillance and epidemiological studies to better understand and control RVFV outbreaks. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, March 2024.¹⁶

2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop: Critical Issues That Need to be Addressed for ASF Control.¹⁷

Identification of Host Factors for Rift Valley Fever Phlebovirus ¹⁸

Fomite Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Contributing Factors¹⁹

Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in Biological Fluids of Animals²⁰

Bison, Elk and Other Captive  Wildlife Species Humoral Immune Responses against SARS-CoV-²¹

Experimental Inoculation of pigs with monkeypox virus results in protective infection and transmission to sentinels.²²

Current scenario of viral diseases and vaccination strategies of cattle In Turkey.²³

Development of an Indirect ELISA for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Cats. ²⁴

Emergence, Evolution and Pathogenicity  of Influenza A(H7N4) Virus in Shorebirds in China²⁵

References

1.      Centers of Excellence | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

2.      Jürgen A. Richt (k-state.edu)

3.      CEEZAD | Kansas State University

4.       About | CEEZAD

5.      About | CEEZAD

6.      About | CEEZAD

7.      About | CEEZAD

8.      How Does Bird Flu Spread in Cows? Experiment Yields Some ‘Good News.’ - The New York Times

9.      How U.S. Farms Could Start a Bird Flu Pandemic - The New York Times

10.  Experiment confirms that bird flu in the US is spread by milking procedures | Health | EL PAÍS English

11.  Scientists warn of the increased dangers of a new bird flu strain | WRVO Public Media

12.  New bird flu variant found in Nevada dairy cows has experts sounding alarms: ‘We have never been closer to a pandemic from this virus’

13.   sars cov-2 richt - Search Results - PubMed (nih.gov)

14.  Nature 2024 Sep 25

15.  Emerging Microbes Infections, December 2024

16.  Journal of Clinical Microbiology, March 2024

17.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38275939/#:~:text=Viruses,doi%3A%2010.3390/v16010004.

18.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38005928/#:~:text=Viruses,doi%3A%2010.3390/v15112251.

19.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36986286/#:~:text=Pathogens,doi%3A%2010.3390/pathogens12030364.

20.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36992470/#:~:text=Viruses,doi%3A%2010.3390/v15030761.

21.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39409778/#:~:text=Animals%20(Basel),doi%3A%2010.3390/ani14192829.

22.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38712637/#:~:text=Emerg%20Microbes%20Infect,2024%20Jun%2011.

23.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36099365/#:~:text=Infect%20Dev%20Ctries,10.3855/jidc.14767.

24.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35754530/#:~:text=Front%20Vet%20Sci,eCollection%202022.

25.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34787451/#:~:text=J%20Virol,2021%20Nov%2017.